ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS WHICH PROMPT PEOPLE TO SWITCH CODES IN KARACHI

DIPLOMA IN TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TEFL) SOCIOLINGUISTICS (5656)

Semester Spring 2012 Assignment 2

Presented By: Tasneem Sheikh

INTRODUCTION
People who are proficient in two or more languages use code switching frequently. Educationists and philosophers all agree that this method is useful in understanding the culture, economy and civilization of the speakers of the targeted foreign language. A teacher can also use this technique while teaching a foreign language to make meanings clear and to let the students grasp and follow the teachers pace.

WHAT IS CODE SWITCHING?

Code-switching is a verbal skill requiring a large degree of linguistic competence in more than one language, rather than a defect arising from insufficient knowledge of one or the other. Code-Switching refers to the use of two languages (or dialects) within a sentence or discourse. Code-switching involves the substitution of a word (or phrase) from one language within a sentence in another language. In linguistics, code-switching is switching between two or more , or language varieties, in the context of a single conversation. Multilinguals, people who speak more than one language, sometimes use elements of multiple languages in conversing with each other.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Sert concluded in his study that the use of code switching in classrooms is not altogether harmful for students, but only if the teachers aim is to make the meaning clear. But it is possible that when the students will come into contact with the natives of the targeted (foreign) language, they will have difficulty as they will have become habitual to code switch method. (1) Runeela Jalal argued that code switching can be used as an important resource to aid L1 in making meaning clear. (2) Auer, in his volume presentation, brought forward the studies conducted on code switching and supported the view that code switching is beneficial altogether. (3)

 Heredia and Brown (4) concluded from their study that bilinguals use more code switching in their native language as compared to second language, and that bilinguals switch mentally from one language to other, a process that slows down their reading speed when encountered with sentences containing code switched words.

METHODOLOGY
STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative Descriptive Observational Study SETTING: Public School Karachi West,
Dow University of Heath Sciences. DURATION: 3 days SAMPLING TECHNIQUE: Non-probability Convenient Sampling SAMPLE SIZE: 3 adult people, male and female.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Individuals above 20 years of age

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Individuals below 20 years of age.

 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE:

The individuals included two females and one male. All three were interviewed separately on a selected topic, at least one question being asked from each. The topic selected was Painting in a House: Your ideas. The results were analyzed and compared by the researcher and specific situations identified.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The interviews with the three cases revealed an excessive use of the code switching technique throughout the interview. Although it is a fact that some English words have become a concrete part of our native language, like paint, kitchen, cabinets, but apart from these conventionally used words, a lot of irrelevant code switching was observed, much to the amazement and disappointment of the researcher. Such cases also came to light where only one or two words of Urdu were used in one sentence, the rest of the words being replaced by their English synonyms. It was also observed that home environment and surroundings also play a vital role in development of an individuals speech traits and characteristics.

When it was asked to each case at the end of the interview that why did they mixed so many English words with Urdu, all of them gave the same answer: that their family members at home, and friends and colleagues at college and workplace use this kind of vocabulary. They further justified themselves by indicating that the television now a days intermingles the two languages to such an extent that it is ridiculous to hear. And as all of them watch it routinely, this may also be a reason for excessive code switching. Moreover, they were genuinely surprised to hear their interviews afterwards, saying that they had no idea that they mixed so many words of both the languages. But, the case 3 who was a university student, said that by mixing the two languages the speaker seems to be sophisticated, civilized and attractive. The case who studied at the university was observed to use more code switching than the other two cases, who belonged to an older generation. This indicates that code switching is becoming more and more in-fashion.

FINDINGS
From the above results and findings it can be concluded that following conditions prompt code switching: Influence of family and friends Influence of the media Enthusiasm for a topic of conversation The psychological aspect of the general public; that to use as much English words in a sentence as possible determines the level of civilization of a person. The new trend of the new generation

All these situations are indicative that code switching is increasing by the day in Pakistan, and is taking the shape of a hindrance rather than a resource, and a bane rather than a boon. As it was discussed in the literature review that this technique is useful IF it is used in a limited fashion. But in this case, it is clear that the excessive assimilation of the words of a foreign language in our native language is affecting our own language adversely, and the natives are forgetting the pronunciation, accent and grammatical rules of Urdu. Whatever the effects maybe, the above mentioned situations seem to be some of the most appropriate conditions in which people use code switching. Further studies are required in order to determine more such conditions.

REFERENCES
1. The functions of code switching in ELT classrooms by Olcay Sert, Hancettepe University (Ankara, Turkey) A suggestion to use code switching as an L1 resource in students written work: a pedagogical study (Thesis) by Runeela Jalal, Department of English Volume presentation by Peter Auer, London Routledge (Forthcoming March 1998) Code switching by Roberto R. Heredia and Jefferey m. brown, Texas A&M International University.

2.

3. 4.